Scoreboard



April 19, 1966 ATTORNEY April 9, 1966 A. o. AAFEDT 3,246,411

SCOREBOARD Filed April 25, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR A/PfA/V ama n T AT'TORNEY United States Patent 3,246,411 SCOREBOARD Ardeah O. Aafedt, 704 W. 17th St., Wiiiiston, N. Dak. Filed Apr. 25, 1962, Ser. No, 190,153 Claims. (Cl. 420-102) This invention relates to scoring and tallying of various events, including contests and games and to equipment employed toaccomplish said scoring and tallying.

More particularly, -theinvention is concerned with scoreboards for scoring contests and games as might be undertaken in various sport programs and physical education pr-ograms and the like. l

various types of scoreboards have -been offered in the past. However none of these have proven to be entirely i satisfactory from the standpoint of cost and operation and adaptability particularly where several events or 'games are taking place in the same gymnaisum 'or field simultaneously. 4'

It is an Object of this invention to overcome the 'aforementioned deficiencies, and to provide a novel portable scoreboard which may be adapted for use under a wide variety of circumstances.

It is a further object of the invention to provide novel portable devices which may be easily and practicably used for scoring several events such as intersquad or intramural events for example as may be carried on simultaneously in the same area.

It is a further Object of the invention to provide a novel, inexpensive scoreboard invention wherein the l.

opera-tor of the scoreboard may be kept informed as to the score while performing other tasks and Wherein the invention also enables the participants to :be informed as to the score at all times.

It is a further Object of the invention to provide a novel portable scoreboard which may be easily manufactured and readilytransported from placeto place and put into use.

It is a further Object of the invention to provide a novel scoring device which may be easily mounted into FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view of the portable scoreboard;

FIGURE 4 is a rear elevational view of the portable scoreboard;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of two of the num-= bered cards employed in operating the scoreboard;

FIGURE 6 is 'a fragmentary top view of the portable scoreboard, disclosing one of its mounting wire frame members, and its Construction and novel mounting to the score board;

FIGURE 7 is a side elevation view of the portable l' scoreboard mounted upon a desk or table in operative use;

FIGURE 8 is a cross-sectional View ofthe wire frame mounting Construction of the portable scoreboard taken along line 8-8 of FIGURE 7;

' FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the suction cup mounting and the frame mounting of the vscoreboard taken along line 9 9 of FIGURE 6.

Briefly stated the invention comprises a portable' scoreboard having a dual set of numbered cards with the screw member 43, and is then integrally connected with ice cards in each set being numbered on their opposite faces so that the scoreboard may be attached over a desk or table and enable ,the operator of the scoreboard to be seated at -the desk and be informed as to the score at all times while facing the area where the game is being 'conducted, as well as to simultaneously inform the participants as to the score.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, FIG. 1 discloses the portable scoreboard invention 21 having a rectangular front panel 22, and a similar rectangular back pane] 23. Of slightly greater height with one set of cards 24 mounted to' the left half of the portable scoreboard and another set of cards 25, mounted to the right half of the portable scoreboard. The dual set of wire frame members 26 and 27 are mounted to the upper portion of the panel members 22 and 23 and carrying the sets of cards 24'and *25, suspended between the panels.

Mounted to the rear face 23' of the panel member 23 are -a pair of suction cup members or front members 28 and 29 which are employed to support the portable scoreboard upon various Structure, such as a desk 30, and act to arrange the rear panel of the scoreboard at an 'angle toward' the ear 30' of the desk 30. The suction cup members also act to Secure and position the scoreboard upon the desk.

Wire frame members The pair of wire frame members 26 and 27 each are of a unitary Construction. The wire frame members 26 and 27 are each of identical sh'ape with the wire frame member 27, for example, being formed of a single continuous rod or elongated wire with the remote ends of the rod or wire forming foot portions 31 and 32, Which protrude through apertures 33 and 34 in the back panel member 23 of the portable scoreboard. The foot members 31 and 32 lay parallel to and against the rear face 23' of the rear panelso as to secure the outer ends of the wire frame members in place.

The one foot portion 31ris provided With an integral laterally offset portion 35 which projects through the aperture 33 to the opposite side of the panel. The offset portion 35 is integrally connective with a portion 36, on the -opposite side Which extends p arallel with the foot portion 32, on the opposite side of one another, so as to thereby Secure and lock the one remote end of the wire frame member to the back panel.

' Integrally formed with the rod portion 36 is an ofset portion 37 projecting 'upward away from the back panel 23, a substantial distance, along a substantially straight line.

The upper portion 37' of the said offset portion 37 Curves forwardly and is formed integrally with a relatively long straight rod portion 38 which extends forwardly toward the front edge 39 of the back paneLand projects beyond the front edge 39, a substantial distance. Said portion 38 at its forward end is formed integrally with a curved looping portion 40 which curves around and back toward the panel member 23 and is connected at its rearward end integrally to parallel rod portion 41, extending rearwardly toward and past front edge 39 of the back panel. The rod portion 41, connects integrally with a lateral intermediate rod portion 42, bent degrees and extending par-allel to the front edge 39 of the -back panel. 65'

,nut member 43 having an annular recess 44, for receiv- The lateral intermediate rod portion 42 intersects a ing the lateral rod portion 42, therebetween and securing the same in place.

The rod portion 42 continues parallel with the front edge 39 of the back panel, a substantial distance past the a rod portion 45 (see FIG. 8), disposed similarly to rod the back panel, and projects beyond the front edge 39..

The rod portion 45 is then formed integrally with a cnrved looping portion 46 which curves upwardly in the same manner as the curved looping portion 40 and the curved looping portion 46 is formed integrally and connects to an elongated rod portion 47, which corresponds in length to the rod portion 38 and extends rearwardly toward the foot member 30.

The rod portion 47, at its rearward end curved downwardly and is formed integrally with rod portion 48 Which extends along a substantially straight line toward the top face 23" of the rear panel.

The rod portion 48 is then formed integrally -with a rod portion 40, corresponding to the rod portion 35 and said rod portion 49 is then formed integrally with an oi*- set portion 50 which corresponds to oifset portion 35 and which passes through the aperture 34 of the back panel, where it is formed integrally with and connects to the foot member 31 of the wire frame member 27.

The shape and Construction of the wire frame member 26 is identical to that of the wire frame member 27 just described. The wire frame member 26 has, for example,

elongated rod portions 41' and 45' which correspond to r the rod portions 41 and 45 of wire frame member 27, curved looping portions 40' and 46' which correspond respectively to the curved front portions 40 and 46; vertical back rod portions 37' and 48' which correspond respectively to portions 37 and 48; portions 41', 42', and 45' which correspond to portions 41, 42 and 45 respectively. The rear panel 23, is also provided With a pair of apertures 33' and 34 for receiving oifset portions of the frame member 25, which correspond to ofiset porticns 35 and 50 of frame member 27; and frame member is also provided with foot members and 31' which correspond to foot portions 31 and 32. Frame member 26 also has portions corresponding to portions 36 and 49 of member 27.

The frame member 26 is also provided with a nut member 43' having an annular ridge 44' and being identical to nut member 43, and which similarly acts to retain portions 42' of the frame member 26 to the back panel 23, in the same manner -that nut member 43 retains rod portion 42 to the back panel.

Foot support members The suction cups or foot members 28 and 28' are each mounted to the back panel 23 in an identical manner.

Suction cup member 28 has a screw 51 passing through an aperture 52 in the back panel and being threaded into nut member 43. Similarly suction cup member 28' has an. identical screw 51' which passes through suction cup 28' and through a similar aperture (not shown) in the back panel to be threaded to the nut member 43'. The tightening of the screws 51 and 51' act to Secure the suction cup firmly to the back panel 23.

The suction cups or foot members 28 and 28' act to position the scoreboard at an angle upon a desk 30 by raising the forward portion 39 thereby arranging the members on the cards -resting upon the back panel 23, at an angle making it easier for the operator to view these 'cards when seated to the rear 30' of the desk, see FIG.

Each of the wire frame members 26 and 27 are spring loaded or Spring biased so that the U-shaped interrnediate portions 41, 42 and 45, and 41', 42' and 45' of each of the frame members are spring biased against their respective nut members 41 and 57 so as to urge the lat- -eral portions 42 and 42' snugly within the annular ridges 44 and 44' of the nut member.

T hus when viewed from FIG. 7 or 8 the portions 42 and 42' are being urged to the right or toward the front edge 39 of the back panel.

Thus to attach the rod portions 42 and 42' of each of the frame members to the nut members, the rod portions 42 and 42' must be drawn back toward the left when viewed from FIG. 7 and slipped over the nut members where they will be held in place under tension.

Operating the scoreboard The portable scoreboard may be readily carried by hand, by the operator, about a gymnasium for example, it being of a small light weight character so that it may be carried under the arm, or by the hoop members 40, 46, 40', or 46'.

Normally the scoreboard is used in such programs where electric scoreboards are not feasible and there is a need for more than one scoreboard at a given time. In many schools having physical educational programs such as basketball; or Volley ball, there will be two or more games going on at the' same time. There is a need for individual scoring of each game separately with a sc-oreboard which may be set up rapidly.

The portable scoreboard will be carried, as shown in FIG. l or 3, by the party keeping the ofiicial score, and will be used for scoring by placing the scoreboard upon a desk 30, upon the upper face 53 of the desk. The suction cups may be pressed onto the desk in such a manner so that they will Secure the scoreboard by suction in place as illustrated in FIG. 2 or 7.

The front and back panels 22 'and 23 of the scoreboard are made of plywood or other rigid material and the back panel, when the suction cups are attached, will be disposed at angle as illustrated in FIG. 7, so that the 0perator seated behind the rear 30' of the desk may view the numbered cards upon panel 23, more readily.

Thereafter the front panel 22, which rests normally in the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, will be slid upward along rod portions 37, 48, 37', and 48' and forwardly along elongated rod portions 38, 47, 38', 47', and around the looping portion into the portion shown in FIG. 2 or 7.

The front panel has a dual set of apertures 53, 61, 53' and 61' for receiving the wire frame members and for guiding such movement.

The inner face 22' of the front panel 22 has the words "Home and Visitor printed along the lower portion of the panel as illustrated in FIG. 2, so that the participants may view the same, and determine Which set of cards is registering the score for each team.

The desk or table 30 will normally be arranged so that the front panel will face the area where the game, such as basketball, is being played. Thus, readily enabling the players to view the inner face 22' -of the front panel 22.

On the inner face 23" of the back panel 23, the words Visitor and Home are also printed in reve-rse relation so that the operator of the scoreboard may also readily identify which set of cards refers to the score for each team, more particularly which set of cards is registering the score of the home team and which set of cards is -registering the score of the Visiting team.

The set of cards 25 is composed of individual cards, such as illustrated by cards identified by numerals 55, 56 and 57, arranged in numerical sequence as illustrated in FIG. 5. The set of cards 25 has a dual set of numbers running in numerical sequence on one face 55', 56' and 57' for the operator to view and another set of numbers running in numerical sequence on their opposite or re- Verse face 55", 56", 57" for the participants to view.

Although only three of the cards are shown in FIG. 5, they nevertheless illustrate the operation of the cards. The numbers on cards 55, 56 and 57, or their faces 55', 56' and 57', namely numbers 77, 78, and '79 respectively, are arranged in numerical sequence to each other. The numbers on the opposite faces 55", 56", and 57", namely numbers 78, 79 and 80 respectively, are also arranged in numerical sequence to each other, but are one number higher in sequence.

However, by having the numbers arranged in numerical sequence on their one face, and also arranged in numerical sequence on their opposite face, but one number higher in sequence, when the cards are flipped over toshow the score to both the participants and operator, -as illustrated in BIG, 2, the operator and participants will be e rds. h -ring t e s me-num r. 4

Thus .by this arrangement card 53, as illustrated in FIG. 2, shows to the participants, .the scoreof the Home team to be 77, l

Card 55, also illustrated in FIG. '2, has its 'face 55' exposed, and thus also sh-owing to the operator, the score of theHome team to be'77.

Should .the- Home team score another point, card 55 would be flipped ov`er or slid forward onto card 54 in suspended parallel flush relation, 'and the card 55 on its rear face 55" would show the score of the Home team to the participants* as being 78." On the other hand, card 56 resting parallel with the cards on the rear panel 23, will have itsFface 56' exposed and will thus also show the score of the Home team to the operator as being 78.

Card 57, as well as 'any other 'cards beneath, shown in FIG. 2, would ofcourse be arranged in `continuing `numerical sequence,-as was illustrated in FIG. 5, so ,that as the ope'rator continued -fiipping the cards forward each time more points were scored,"with the same score automatically beingshown `to 'both the operator and the participants. n 4 r L li "The cardsin set 24, would 'operate 'andbe arranged in the same identical sequence as the cards in set 25, so as to simultaneously show the score of the Visiting team to both the operator and participants.

The lower numbered cards would, of course, be those cards indicated by numeral 58- lyin'g'close to front 'panel 22.

Numbered cards ,are made of relatively thick paper so as to have a certain amount of Strength and rigidity. Each of the numbered cards has a pair of apertures 59 and 60 for receiving the rod frame members 26 or 27. The numbers 78, 79, and 80 on the opposite -faces 55", 56", and 57" are illustrated in dashed lines in FIG. 5.

The rod portions 37, 48, and 37', and 48' of each of the wireframe members 27 and 26 are of sufficient height, when viewed from FIG. 7, to accommodate all the numbered cards making up each set and these portions being relatively straight act to align those cards on the rear panel 23, generally referred to by numeral 61, in flush parallelsm to one another as well as generally parallel to the rear panel, thus also placng those cards at an angle to the top face to the desk to facilitate viewing at the same time by the operator.

Rod portions 41, 45, 41' and 45' are also of sufficent length soas t-o project beyond the front edge 39 of the rear panel 23 to accommodate all of the cards if necessary, with these rod portions being relatively straght so as to align the cards in parallelism with one another, and generally perpendicular to the floor, or in other words parallel to the front vertical face 62 of the desk to facilitate viewing by the participants.

Also the rod portion 41, 45, 41' and 45' will normally, When the scoreboard has been mounted, as illustrated in FIG. 7, project beyond the forward edge 63 of the desk a sutficient distance so that those cards, generally referred to by numeral 65, on portions 41, 45, 41' and 45',

' as well as the front panel, will be able to hang generally perpendicular as illust-rated in FIG. 7.

Also the foot members or suction cup members are set rearwardly a suflicient distance from these portions 41, 45, 41' and 45' so that these foot members may engage the desk to support the board at a proper .angle even though these rod portions project forward of the forward 'edge 63 of .the desk.

Also look portions 4%, 46, 40' and 46' are provided with sufficiently large arcs so that the cards as well as the front panel may easily be flipped forward and will tend to gravitate more easily into their vertic'al position.

Also the wire members 26 and 27 may be easily detached by drawing the rod portions 42 and 42' rearwardly away from the front edge 39 to slip them over and out of the similar ridges in the nut members, and to allow the rod portions to thereafter Spring forwardly and toward .the right, free of the nut members.

'I'hereupon thefoot members 31, 32 and 31' and 32' of both`wire`members 26 and 27, may be disengaged from their apertures in the back panel thus removing the wire members quickly and easily from the panel members.

This rapid removal of the wire frame members from the panels, enables the cards -to be quickly replaced, and/or new cards added to scoreboard in a minimum amount of time and with relative ease.

'Thu's it will be seen that a novel Compact portable scoreboard has been devised which can be simply and readily constructed and easily installed for use and which can be adapted for use under a wide variety of circumstances, for games of various types, such as basketbal l, Volley ball and thelike, and that the invention 'has various other features in addition to those specifically described.

It will also be seen that thescoreboard may be easily operated by one person, while performing other tasks at the same time, such as keeping the official record.

It will further be apparent that various changes or departures may be made in the invention without departing from the Spirit and scope thereof, and accordingly it is not intended that the invention be limited to that which is specifically described in the specifieation or dsclosed in the drawings, but only as indic'ated in the appended claims Wheren':

What I claim is:

1. 'A portable scoreboard comprising a front and rear panel member, having a dual pair of wire hoop members mounted in alignment with each other in a common row along the front edge of said panel members, attachment means mounted to the rear face of said one of said panel members to enable said scoreboard to be mounted to a desk, said attaching means comprising a pair of suction cup members disposed in spaced relation to one another, and a dual set of number-ed cards mounted to said dual set of hoop members, each of said cards in each of said sets of cards being numbered on their front and rea-r faces with the tops of the numbers on both faces of said cards directed toward said hoop members.

2. A portable scoreboard comprising a pair of front and rear panel members, said panel members being connected together by a dual pair of hoop members, said hoop members each being in alignment with one another in a Common row along the front edge of one of said panel members and carrying a plurality of sets of numbered cards, with said hoop members being elongated in a direction parallel to the plane of said one panel me-mber and extending in length transversely away from said front edge thereof so that said cards may be flipped over on said hoop members and arran-ged so that some of said cards are aligned transversely to the other of said cards to enable the cards to be viewed from different directions.

3. A portable scoreboard comprising an upper and lower panel, a plura-lity of up-right elongated wire hoop members mounted to said lower panel in sp'aced relation along the forward edge thereof, a dual stack of numbered cards between said upper and lower panels, said stacks being aligned relative to one another in a row parallel along the forward edge of said lower panel, said hoop members being elon gated forwardy to project beyond the forward edge of said lower panel, said scoreboard being adapted to rest upon a generally horizontal surface with said lower panel having its forward edge slightly inclined and -adjacent the forward edge of the horizontal surface, a pair of suction cups depending from said lower panel to secure said panel to said surface and provide said inclination, said cards in each stack being numbered consecutively on both faces from top to bottom with a separate numerical sequence for the upper face and a separate numerical sequence for the lower face, said cards and upper panel having spaced apertures receiving said wire hoop members, so as to slide forwardly about an obtuse angle into dependng relation adjacent .the forward edge of said lower panel and the forward edge of the horizontal surface, said numbers on both faces having their tops directed toward said wre hoop members with said numbers on said upper face being one number lower in sequence than the number on the corresponding lower face of each card so -that the same score may be viewed from opposite directons in each stack.

4. A portable scoreboard compn'sing a pair of front and rea-r rectangular panel members, elongated wire hoop members connecting said pzanel members together, means to detachably mount said Wire hoop members to one of said panel members, a plurality of sets of numbered cards slidably mounted to said wire hoop members, said hoop members projecting in length along the plane of said one panel and extending away from said said one panel so that said numbered cards may be swung about an obtuse angle from one end of said hoop means about the opposite end, said cards being numbered in a separate sequence on both faces, so that each exposed card on the one end of said hoop means ex-poses the same number on its exposed one face on the exposed card swung about the obtuse angle about the other end o-f the hoop beat-er on the opposite exposed face, so that the same number registering a score may be viewed from opposite directions.

5. A portable scoreboard compn'sing a p air of panels, 'said panels being connected together by elongated hoop means, a plurality of sets of numbered cards aligned in a row along one edge of one of said panels and between said panels and carried by said hoop means, indioia along said panels identifying said sets of cards, said hoop means projecting from said one edge of said one of-said panels a substantial distance and fixed thereto, said' other panel and cards having apertures to receive said hoop means so that said cards and other panel may be swung about an obtuse angle on said hoop means frotm one end of said hoop means about the opposite end, with said cards being' numbered in a separate sequence on bothfaces, so that the exposed card on the one end of the hoop means bears the same number as the exposed card swung about the other end of said hoop means, with the tops of the numbers on both faces directed toward said hoop means whereby the same score may be viewed from opposite directions.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 211,128 1/1879 Bergen 129-1 841,705 1/ 1907 Morden 129--1 1,236,974 8/1917 Orth 40-119 1,492,250 4/ 1924 Klette 129 -1 1,774,72 1 9/1930 Morris 40-102 2,678,833 5/1954 Loeb 281-15 3,022,093 2/ 196-2 Dayton 129-1 J EROME SCHNALL, Primary Examner.

EDWARD V. BENHAM, Examner. WENCESLAO J. CONTRERAS, Arsstant Examiner. 

1. A PORTABLE SCOREBOARD COMPRISING A FRONT AND REAR PANEL MEMBER, HAVING A DUAL PAIR OF WIRE HOOP MEMBERS MOUNTED IN ALIGNMENT WITH EACH OTHER IN A COMMON ROW ALONG THE FRONT EDGE OF SAID PANEL MEMBERS, ATTACHMENT MEANS MOUNTED TO THE REAR FACE OF SAID ONE OF SAID PANEL MEMBERS TO ENABLE SAID SCOREBOARD TO BE MOUNTED TO A DESK, SAID ATTACHING MEANS COMPRISING A PAIR OF SUCTION CUP MEMBERS DISPOSED IN SPACED RELATION TO ONE ANOTHER, AND A DUAL SET OF NUMBERED CARDS MOUNTED TO SAID DUAL SET OF HOOP MEMBERS, EACH OF SAID CARDS IN EACH OF SAID 